I am grateful for many things deciding to do this trip has given me, but one of the biggest joys to come from this has been home schooling the kids.
I had several issues with the public school our kids went to prior to hitting the road. For example, neither Emma or Devin had a daily recess; when I was in elementary we usually had three a day. The kids had assigned seats on the bus, lunch, and in class and were not aloud to speak to anyone not directly beside or across from them. The whole year leading up to this trip, Britt and I would discuss other options for them. We would say to each other, “If they are not getting the social interaction anyway, why don’t we just home school?” If not for this trip, I don’t think either of us would have had the guts to do it.
When I tell people about our trip, there are a few questions that almost everyone immediately asks. One of them is about the kids schooling and how it is handle. It has been surprising to many people that I have the duties of handling the kids schooling. Before you hand me an award, the kids do virtual school online, so I am just the “learning coach”. For Devin, this is not too difficult as he can pretty much do his own thing. With Emma, it requires a little more attention.
The three of us have all butted heads, as you can imagine, and we are still learning how to work with each other everyday. But there are few things that have been more rewarding for me as a parent then to see firsthand my children grow academically. To know that I had a part in the process is something that will stick with me forever. Are there times where I literally pull my hair out? Yes, yes I do. Does Emma sometimes lay on the floor and scream? At least once a week, but everyday it gets a little easier and schools goes a little smoother.
I don’t think that we will continue to home school after this trip, but I will definitely be more involved in the learning process and I will have a better understanding of what is going on with their learning. On top of that, if there is something in there education that requiqres action in the future, I don’t think either of us will be afraid to take whatever steps are necessary.
Well, you're doing something really right. I enjoyed hanging out with both your kids. Devin is obviously very gifted intellectually and Emma is a treat, too.
I think Devin and Emma are at that perfect age for homeschooling. Devin is probably learning more from you than he would in a regular classroom, because all I hear from my son is "I'm bored".
Have you ever considered a homeschool co-op?
I was homeschooled all the way through, except for one term in a local high school. Prior to that term in high school, I had little value for the sacrifice and the love my parents had and the investment into my life through homeschooling. I’ve worked for government, studied at the most prestigious universities in my home country, never failed to get a job I interviewed for…and been well-socialised.
Apart from a far superior learning environment, one of the greatest bonuses of being homeschooled is the friendship and closeness of my family. We’re not abnormally close; but we’re best friends. I go to my mum for advice before I go to my friends, and I share with my sister before I share with facebook. Even if you don’t continue homeschooling (believe me, one week back in the school system and your kids will be screaming for a return to home education), don’t underestimate the value of the time you invest into it. This year of school will be the one year they look back and point to as a transformational year.